 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, any ideas about this one - planning a trip to Yellowstone, staying at Big Sky and Jackson Hole. Preferring not to have a mega drive when we get there, Bozeman seems to be the best airport. ( we’re coming from the UK) . One problem - car hire from anywhere in Bozeman is way way more expensive than other destinations, & looks like making it a nonstarter as flights are pretty costly compared to our usual to Calgary. We’re only 2 but looking at an SUV as that’s what we usually hire for safe driving in icy conditions and we carry all our own ski gear. Can anyone suggest if there’s a way to do this without breaking the bank please - maybe we’re missing something ...?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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First thing is don't get a return flight as it would mean wasting time backtracking. An open jaw flying into Jackson and out of bozeman is about £40 more, than bozeman return flight - well worth it.
If you don't want a mega drive when you get there you are best of flying into Jackson hole. The airport is right next to the town and ski resort. You can get by using buses alone. Personally I would stay in Teton village at the ski base and just go into Jackson town the odd evening. If your more into nightlife you could stay in Jackson town but means taking a bus to the lifts each day.
From Jackson you can go by greyhound bus to bozeman. About $80 leaves Jackson at 6pm and gets into bozeman about 3am. Means you travel in the dark so miss out on views but the positive is no missed days skiing. Sleep somewhere cheap in bozeman and bus out to big sky the morning after. Not sure if it works out cheaper to stay in bozeman and bus out each day or in big sky itself. Bozeman probably has more going on at night, plus you could ski at Bridger bowl for cheaper lift tickets (also has some epic advanced terrain off the ridge if that's what your after).
There's no real way to do either of them cheaply - you will always pay way more than interior BC. (That's before you add on the snowmobiling day in Yellowstone!). Mountain collective pass can save you money if you are skiing enough days in Jackson. Big sky is on the MAX pass but will be cheaper to buy tickets than the pass. You could potentially save a lot of money if you picked either big sky or Jackson and combined them with another resort on the same pass. For example max pass ($780) would get you 5 days skiing at big sky, then 10 days skiing out of slc Utah (5 at Brighton and 5 at solitude). Bearing in mind Jackson day ticket is $120 that's a pretty great deal. You could do something similar with Jackson hole and another mountain collective resort - but the pass works a little different (first 2 days are free then 50% off day tickets after that).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Good information from @boarder2020, the cost of lift passes is a big hit, do your research and calculate if it worth getting the Mountain collective pass. You may be able to get a significant discount linked to purchasing accommodation. A booking agency like "americanskiclassics" can do all the legwork for you. Fly into Jackson Hole via a major hub. Perhaps base in JH, do a day trip or two to Grand Targhee with an excursion inclusive with lift ticket for $122 and don't miss out on a Yellowstone snow mobile package day out.
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@lbc, You said you were planning a trip to Yellowstone, but you didn't say whether you were intending just doing a 1 day snowmobile visit, or actually staying a night or two in the Park? I've done the latter a couple of times, and Yellowstone in Winter is a magical experience. If you do want to stay overnight in the Park then information on winter accommodation and packages is given here. If you have a car then the only car access into the Park in Winter is the North Entrance at Gardiner, which is easily reached from Bozeman, and you can stay in the Park accommodation at Mammoth Hot Springs.
Early morning scene at Mamoth Hot Springs:
P.S I had a day's skiing at Bridger Bowl near Bozeman, and it's a very nice ski area with very reasonably priced day ticket prices (for the US) - single day ticket $60. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Great information, thanks all ..
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We'll be doing the drive from JH to Bozeman in Feb, and have done it before. JH to Big Sky is around 3-3.5 hrs driving, depending on conditions. We skied JH then hit the road up. Stopped off in West Yellowstone for food - Slippery Otter 
JH airport is easy, not used it, as prefer to drive up, as costs are cheaper. If you use the shuttles to get to Teton village, theres a car hire place you can then use in Jackson its self - so saving you some cash. But if you fly into KH and out of Bozeman then then check out one way car rentals - these can be expensive, especially on SUVs as hire co. don't like to lose their profitable items 
Targhee is worth going to, so long as its not foggy - holds the snow better and the quality is gopod to, as it faces north rather than south like JH. We also prefer to stay at Jackson and experience the town rather than resort, don't might the ride to Teton and have done enough resort stays now to not want another.
Basically, you have to off set costs against time, I personally don't mind the drives. We're flying into SLC then driving up to JH after first days skiing. Flight costs are so cheaper along with car hire, fuel is cheap too - so its costs me an evenings time that's all. This I find helps with jet lag, and SWMBO gets much needed rest  Since we are road tripping anyway its part of the experience.
Alastair Pink, Great pic, not seen Bison yet around Yellowstone, but did see a wolf pack on the drive back from Big Sky the other year
lbc, hope you get the trip planned, its not the cheapest but a great experience.
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